Out (2020 film)

Last updated

Out
Out 2020 film poster.jpg
Official poster
Directed bySteven Clay Hunter
Written bySteven Clay Hunter
Produced byMax Sachar
Starring
  • Caleb Cabrera
  • Matthew Martin
  • Kyle McDaniel
  • Bernadette Sullivan
CinematographyMatthew Silas
(camera)
Edited byNoah Newman
Music by Jake Monaco
Production
company
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
Release date
  • May 22, 2020 (2020-05-22)(Disney+)
Running time
9 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Out is a 2020 American animated short film directed and written by Steven Clay Hunter, produced by Max Sachar, and distributed by Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. [1] The plot features a young gay man who has not yet come out to his parents, who unexpectedly has his mind magically swapped with his dog's. The seventh short film in the SparkShorts series, it is both Disney's and Pixar's first short to feature a gay main character and storyline, including an on-screen same-sex kiss. [2] The short was released on Disney+ on May 22, 2020. [3] The short was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. [4]

Contents

Plot

A magical cat and dog appear outside Greg's townhouse, as he and his boyfriend Manuel are packing his belongings to move. The cat imbues the collar of Greg's dog Jim with magic. Inside, reminiscing about a photo of them together, Manuel encourages Greg to come out to his parents, who unexpectedly show up to help. Greg hastily hides the photo and Manuel quietly exits by the back door. Holding Jim's collar, Greg casually wishes aloud that he would become a dog, and the minds of Greg and Jim magically switch bodies. "Greg" runs outside to play in the yard, where his stoic father is lighting the grill. "Jim" tries to get to him, while also frantically trying to prevent his eagerly helpful mother from finding the photo.

Frustrated by the dog's misbehavior, she sits and talks aloud of her sadness about her son moving away, as "Jim" listens. Imagining a conversation with Greg, she hopes that he finds someone who loves him, and "that he makes you happy". "Jim" suddenly realizes that she not only already knows that he is gay, but she also accepts it. He briefly comforts her, then chases down "Greg", and successfully switches their minds back. That evening, Greg introduces Manuel to his parents; Greg's father spontaneously hugs Manuel. The magical cat and dog see their mission accomplished, and leap away on a rainbow.

Cast

Production

Out is the seventh film in Pixar's "SparkShorts" program. [5] It was directed and written by Steven Clay Hunter, known for animation work on Finding Nemo and WALL-E , [6] and produced by Max Sachar, known for his work on Coco and Toy Story 3 . [7]

Music

Jake Monaco composed the music for Out. The score was released on July 3, 2020. [8]

Out (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film score by
ReleasedJuly 3, 2020 (2020-07-03)
Genre Film score
Label Hollywood

Track listing

All music is composed by Jake Monaco

No.TitleLength
1."Burying the Bone"4:32
2."OUT"0:51
3."Pink & Purple"3:28
Total length:8:51

Release

Out was released on Disney+ on May 22, 2020, [9] [10] [11] and on YouTube in June 2021 as part of the year's Pride Month celebrations. [12] [13]

Reception

Critical response

Kshitij Rawat of The Indian Express stated Out explores the apprehensions felt by members of the LGBTQ community during the coming out, found the story emotional across its running time, and called the animation unique and fresh through its style. [14] Jennifer Green of Common Sense Media rated the short film 5 out of 5 stars, praised the educational value, stating the short film promotes acceptance, and applauded the depiction of positive messages and role models, citing familial and romantic love. [15]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
2021 GLAAD Media Awards Special RecognitionOutWon [16]
Academy Awards Best Animated Short Film Shortlisted [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pixar</span> American computer animation studio

Pixar Animation Studios is an American animation studio based in Emeryville, California, known for its critically and commercially successful computer-animated feature films. Since 2006, Pixar has been a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, a division of Disney Entertainment, a segment of the Walt Disney Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walt Disney Animation Studios</span> American animation studio

Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS), sometimes shortened to Disney Animation, is an American animation studio that creates animated features and short films for The Walt Disney Company. The studio's current production logo features a scene from its first synchronized sound cartoon, Steamboat Willie (1928). Founded on October 16, 1923, by brothers Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney, it is the oldest-running animation studio in the world. It is currently organized as a division of Walt Disney Studios and is headquartered at the Roy E. Disney Animation Building at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. Since its foundation, the studio has produced 62 feature films, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) to Wish (2023), and hundreds of short films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Docter</span> American filmmaker (born 1968)

Peter Hans Docter is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and animator. He has served as the chief creative officer (CCO) of Pixar Animation Studios since 2018, and is best known for directing the animated feature films Monsters, Inc. (2001), Up (2009), Inside Out (2015), and Soul (2020). He has been nominated for nine Oscars and has won three for Best Animated Feature—for Up, Inside Out and Soul—making him the first person in history to win the category three times. He has also been nominated for nine Annie Awards, a BAFTA Children's Film Award and a Hochi Film Award. He has described himself as a "geeky kid from Minnesota who likes to draw cartoons".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byron Howard</span> American film director and animator

Byron P. Howard is an American animator, character designer, story artist, film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known as the director of the Walt Disney Animation Studios films Bolt (2008), Tangled (2010), Zootopia (2016), and Encanto (2021). He is the first LGBT director to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature twice for his work on Zootopia and Encanto.

<i>Purl</i> (film) 2019 short film by Kristen Lester

Purl is a 2018 American animated short film directed and written by Kristen Lester with the story written by Michael Daley, Bradley Furnish, Lester, and James Robertson, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the first short released as part of Pixar's SparkShorts program, and focuses on a ball of yarn named Purl, who gets employed in a male-dominant company, which causes her to be ignored by her fellow employees. The short was previewed at SIGGRAPH on August 14, 2018, premiered at the El Capitan Theatre on January 18, 2019 and released on YouTube on February 4, 2019, and on Disney+ on November 12, 2019 to universal acclaim from critics, particularly for its themes.

SparkShorts is a series of American independent animated short films produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It consists of a program in which Pixar's employees are given six months and limited budgets to develop animated short films that were originally released on Pixar's YouTube channel, and later on Disney+.

<i>Smash and Grab</i> (2019 film) 2019 film short by Brian Larsen

Smash and Grab is a 2019 American animated science fiction action adventure short film directed and written by Brian Larsen, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the second film in Pixar's SparkShorts program, and focuses on two robots who try to escape from their work routine. The short premiered at the El Capitan Theatre on January 18, 2019, before being released on YouTube on February 11, 2019. The short was also released on Disney+ on November 12, 2019.

<i>Kitbull</i> 2019 animated film short by Rosana Sullivan

Kitbull is a 2019 American traditionally animated short film and viral video directed and written by Rosana Sullivan, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the third film in Pixar's SparkShorts program, and focuses on a fiercely independent stray kitten and an abused pit bull, who form an unlikely friendship. The short premiered at El Capitan Theatre on January 18, 2019, before being released on YouTube on February 18, 2019, and has received over 100 million views as of August 2023. The short was also released on Disney+ on November 12, 2019.

<i>Soul</i> (2020 film) Pixar film

Soul is a 2020 American animated fantasy comedy drama film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Pete Docter and co-directed by Kemp Powers, both of whom co-wrote it with Mike Jones, and produced by Dana Murray. It stars the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House, Alice Braga, Richard Ayoade, Phylicia Rashad, Donnell Rawlings, Questlove, and Angela Bassett. The story follows Joe Gardner (Foxx), a middle school teacher and aspiring pianist who falls into a coma following an accident and seeks to reunite his separated soul and body in time for his big break as a jazz musician.

<i>Float</i> (2019 film) 2019 film short by Bobby Rubio

Float is a 2019 American animated comedy short film directed and written by Bobby Rubio, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the fourth film in Pixar's SparkShorts program, and focuses on a son's ability to fly and the choice his father must make. The short was released on Disney+ on November 12, 2019.

<i>Wind</i> (2019 film) 2019 film short by Edwin Chang

Wind is a 2019 American animated short film directed and written by Edwin Chang, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The fifth film in Pixar's SparkShorts program, it focuses on a grandmother and grandson longing to escape an endless chasm. The short was released on Disney+ on December 13, 2019.

<i>Loop</i> (2020 film) 2020 film short by Erica Milsom

Loop is a 2020 American animated drama short film directed and written by Erica Milsom with the story being written by Adam Burke, Matthias De Clercq and Milsom, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sixth short film in Pixar's SparkShorts program and focuses on a non-verbal autistic girl and a chatty boy, learning to understand each other. The short was released on Disney+ on January 10, 2020.

<i>A Spark Story</i> 2021 American documentary film by Pixar

A Spark Story is a 2021 American documentary film directed by Jason Sterman and Leanne Dare. Focusing on SparkShorts directors Aphton Corbin and Louis Gonzales, the film is a co-production between Pixar and Supper Club, and marks the former's first fully live-action project. The film was released on September 24, 2021, on Disney+. The film was to be removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023, but it was kept after demand by fans.

<i>Burrow</i> (film) 2020 animated short film by Pixar

Burrow is a 2020 American 2D animated short film written and directed by Madeline Sharafian, produced by Michael Capbarat at Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The plot features a young rabbit as she tries to build the burrow of her dreams, becoming embarrassed each time she accidentally digs into a neighbor's home. The eighth short film in the SparkShorts series, the short was released on Disney+ on December 25, 2020, and later in theaters on January 12, 2024 alongside Soul. The short was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.

<i>Twenty Something</i> (2021 film) 2021 American animated short film by Aphton Corbin

Twenty Something is a 2021 American 2D animated short film written and directed by Aphton Corbin, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Starring Kaylin Price, Ariana Brown, Aliyah Taylor, Janelle Lasalle, and Napoleon Highbrou, the film focuses on Gia who deals with the insecurities of being a 21-year-old by personifying her emotions in the form of three children in a trenchcoat. The ninth short film in the SparkShorts series, the short was released on September 10, 2021, on Disney+.

<i>Nona</i> (2021 film) 2021 American animated short film by Louis Gonzales

Nona is a 2021 American animated short film written and directed by Louis Gonzales, produced by Pixar Animation Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Starring Wilma Bonet as the title character, the short focuses on Nona who desires to watch her wrestling show, but is interrupted by an unexpected visit from her young granddaughter. The tenth short film in the SparkShorts series, the short was released on September 17, 2021, on Disney+.

<i>Dug Days</i> American series of animated short films

Dug Days is an American animated series of shorts created, written, and directed by Bob Peterson and produced by Pixar Animation Studios initially for Disney+. The series is set immediately after the 2009 film Up, following its main characters, dog Dug, voiced by Peterson, and his owner, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen, voiced by Ed Asner in one of his last performances before his death.

This article features the history of the representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) characters in animated productions under The Walt Disney Company, including films from the studios Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar, and programming from the Disney Branded Television channels as well as the streaming service Disney+. From 1983 onward, Disney struggled with LGBTQ representation in their animated series, and their content often included LGBT stereotypes or the content was censored in series such as Blazing Dragons. Some creators have also criticized Disney studio executives of cutting LGBTQ scenes from their shows in the past, or criticized that their shows were not seen as part of the "Disney brand", like The Owl House.

References

  1. "SparkShorts". Pixar . January 18, 2018. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  2. Welk, Brian (May 22, 2020). "Pixar's New Short Film 'Out' Features Studio's 1st Gay Main Character". TheWrap . Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  3. Morrison, Tony (May 22, 2020). "Here's why Pixar's new short 'Out' is a coming-out story for everyone". ABC News . American Broadcasting Company . Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "93rd Oscars® Shortlists In Nine Award Categories Announced". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. February 9, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  5. Lally, David [@davidmlally] (January 12, 2020). "Future SparkShorts Confirmation" (Tweet). Retrieved May 22, 2020 via Twitter.
  6. Moreau, Jordan (May 23, 2020). "Pixar Short Film 'Out' Features Studio's First Gay Main Character". Variety . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  7. Aviles, Gwen (May 22, 2020). "New short film 'Out' features Pixar's first gay main character". NBC News . NBCUniversal . Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  8. "'Out' Soundtrack". Soundtrack.Net . Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  9. @disneyplus (May 1, 2020). "The complete Skywalker Saga. #ThePrincessBride. #Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. And more. Clearly, the Force is STRONG with this month. #DisneyPlus" (Tweet). Retrieved May 15, 2020 via Twitter.
  10. "New Short Film 'Out' Features Pixar's First Gay Main Character". WBTS-CD . NBC Owned Television Stations. May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  11. Romano, Nick (May 22, 2020). "Pixar's first gay main character arrives in moving Disney+ short film". Entertainment Weekly . Meredith Corporation . Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  12. "Out" Full SparkShort | Celebrate Pride Month | Pixar . Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  13. Celebrating Pride Month with Pixar's Out | Disney+ . Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  14. "Out review: This Pixar short film tells a moving story". The Indian Express. May 26, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  15. Green, Jennifer (June 11, 2020). "'Out' Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  16. "Disclosure, Schitt's Creek, Sam Smith, Happiest Season, I May Destroy You, CHIKA, Veneno, Star Trek: Discovery, The Boys in the Band, The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo among award recipients at the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD . April 8, 2021. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.